The critical issue of mental health on college campuses was sadly highlighted last April when a young man who was never successfully connected to appropriate mental health services took the lives of 33 people on the Virginia Tech campus, including his own.

Mental health conditions are more common during the college years than in any other age group. Add to that the barrage of challenges and stress college students face and manage daily, and it becomes particularly important that these young people have the tools they need to care for their mental health. But there is a real need to improve understanding among students, school officials and the public of the importance of mental health and the reality of mental illnesses—and to improve prevention and treatment interventions for college students.

Mental Health America and its affiliate field have been working to do just that on campuses around the nation. In July, Mental Health America released a web-based "Back to Campus" toolkit that affiliates are using coast to coast to help counter the misunderstanding associated with mental health problems. They're also using it to promote mental wellness on campuses through public education, media outreach and advocacy. The toolkit included sample press materials, fact sheets, PSA scripts, discussion questions for administrators, sample letters to educators and other resources.

Affiliates are reaching students directly through educational programs and campus media such as college radio stations and student papers. The field also connected with campus administrators to establish policies, programs and outreach efforts to ensure students mental health is properly tended to on campus.

If you’re a Mental Health America affiliate and haven’t yet accessed the Back to Campus Toolkit, you can do so on the affiliate-only section of the Mental Health America website at www.mentalhealthamerica.net.